Drapery and fur cleaning machine



April 7, 1970 FREZE ET AL 3,504,510

DRAPERY AND FUR CLEANING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2. 196'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l mv l- April 7, 1970 D, FREZE ET AL DRAPERY AND FUR CLEANING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2. 1967 FIGA FIG. 6

INVE NTO RS /m//fzmfzg A05/QA N50/v5 United States Patent Office 3,504,510 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 3,504,510 DRAPERY AND FUR CLEANING MACHINE Daniel Freze, 2955 Monterey Road, San Marino, Calif.

91108, and Aubra N. Bone, 13774 Florine Ave., Paramount, Calif. 90723 Filed Oct. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 672,034 Int. Cl. D06f 29/00 U.S. Cl. 68-18 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A machine for cleansing sheet material such as draperies, furs, and the like, by the abrading action of particles that serve as a carrier for cleaning materials, freeing the cleansed material of the particles after completion of the cleaning operation, recovery of the particles after they are freed from the cleansed material.

The invention will be particularly described and illustrated in connection with cleaning by use of very nely ground abrading particles such as very finely ground sawdust, powders, or the like (chemically reacting or nonchemically reacting) used along with any liquid or semiliquid cleaning agent (liquid or emulsion; chemicallylreacting or non-chemically reacting). The cleaning process is particularly described as being a non-immersion process where the material comes into contact with the dampened, slightly abrading cleaning agents (the mixture of the abrading particles and a cleaning liquid).

The advantage of this method of cleaning drapes or the like material, over previous wetting processes is that weak material (sun weakened, etc.) can be cleaned without subjecting to excessive fabric stress because of the weight of absorbed liquid cleaning agents (water, solvent, perchlorethylene, etc.). Since the present method is a nonwetting (non-immersion) cleaning method the material is not subjected to this stress, particularly the usual high speed rotating basket or drum, centrifugal force, liquid extraction operation is avoided.

The essence of the cleaning cycle of this invention is that the cleaning (by use of the above cleaning agents) and the removal of the cleaning agents from the material being cleaned is accomplished in one machine. Previous methods required one machine to perform the process of removing the dirt, dust, grime, etc. from the material by the agitation provided by a conventional closed one direction rotating drum or basket. The material laden with the cleaning agents was transferred to a second machine whose sole function was to provide rotating and tumbling action to the material so that a separate blower could remove the cleaning agents from the material being cleaned by drawing air through the perforated outer shell of a one direction rotating basket or drum. A third separate component was a cleaning agent capturing system (lint collector, dust collector, screens, etc.), the air laden with the cleaning agents being forced through this capturing system. The present machine invention combines into one automatic operation all three of the proceeding described operations.

Namely a cleaning cycle, accomplished by the agitation provided by a direction reversing rotating basket or drum along with the use of the described cleaning agents; removal of the cleaning agents from the materials in the same unit machine and collection of the cleaning agents inthe same machine.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a means of cleaning by a non-immersion process, particularly for drapery or the like material.

Another object is to provide a machine operation by which a non-immersion slightly abrading cleaning process and cleaning agents removed is accomplished in one machine without transfer from machine to machine.

A further object of this invention is to incorporate a means of collecting or capturing the cleaning agents within the same machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is the front view of the machine.

FIGURE 2 is the right side view of the machine.

FIGURE 3 is the top view of the machine.

FIGURE 4 is the rear view of the machine.

FIGURE 5 is a view of the perforated plate at the rear of the basket attached to the spider.

The machine has two main sections; the tumbler section 1 and the dust collector section 2 (cleaning agents collection or capturing unit).

The tumbler section includes a rotating basket or drum 3, a dished clear door 4, manual and automatic controls 5, electrical controls and components 6, air inlet ducting 7, a continuous running small blower =8, air outlet tube and shaft bearings support 9, basket supporting pedestal 10, air outlet ducting to dust collector 11, basket drive motor and drive assembly 12. v

The main portions of the dust collection section 2 of the machine are the blower assembly 13, the dust collection bags 14, the air inlet chamber 15, the blower inlet duct hole 16, the dust collection or cleaning agents collection tray 17, and the air inlet rear screen 18.

Todemonstrate the operation of this machine the sequence of operation is traced through below along with discussion of pertinent construction features:

The operation of the subject machine is that the cleaning agents, pre-mixed or separately, are manually introduced into the basket (rotating drum) 3- through the door opening 19 (may also be introduced by an automatic or semi-automatic dispensing arrangement).

After the cleaning agents are placed into the basket along with the drapery material (or any other material lending itself to this process), the door is closed by use of a latching mechanism 20` that applies door sealing pressure as the handle is depressed down.

The operation of the machine is under the control of two timers, 21 and 22. Timer 21 controls the cleaning or agitation period and timer 22 controls the-cleaning agents removal cycle and blower. The cleaning cycle timer 21 sequences through the cleaning agents removal cycle timer 22. Each timer can be manually overridden to provide manual control by use of two switches 23 and 24 respectively. Manual or automatic control is then possible over the cleaning (or agitation) cycle and over the cleaning agent removal cycle.

The basket 3 is driven by the reversing drive motor 12 at appropriately 28 r.p.m. A reversing timer 25 reverses the rotation of the drive motor about every seven revolutions for improved cleaning or agitation. Reversal of rotation is provided so that the material 26 is continually tumbled and mixed and not allowed to pile up in a xed pattern. The low speed of 28 r.p.m. is used so that material will drop to the bottom of the basket as it is carried toward the top by the agitation risers 27 in the basket.

After a predetermined time (approximately 30 minutes or less but not necessarily limited to this) the cleaning cycle timer 21 sequences through the cleaning agent removal timer 22 to start operation of the dusty collector (cleaning agents collection) blower 13 for the pre-selected time (approximately 30 minutes or less but not necessarily limited to this). During the cleaning agent removal cycle the basket 2 is simultaneously driven by the reversing drive motor 12 under control of the reversing timer 25 all under control of the cleaning agent removal sequence timer 22.

The cleaning agent removal blower pulls air 41 through the inlet screen 18, through the intake duct 7 at the front of the machine; through the door area 28 and around the dished door 4 for improved distribution of the incoming air. The air 41 is pulled through the basket and through the material thereby carrying along with it the cleaning agents dirt, dust, grime, etc. 29. The air laden with the cleaning agents etc. is pulled through a perforated plate 30 at the rear of the basket. This perforated plate is attached to the spider 31 that supports the basket housing. The perforated plate covers the full diameter of the basket (perforations are shown only to the depth of the rizers 27 but many variations could be used). The purpose ofy the perforated plate is to prevent the material being cleaned from being drawn into the outlet tubing 9. The result is to remove the cleaning agents from the material and allow the air to carry the cleaning agents through the perforated plate.

The air 41 carrying the cleaning agents, etc. is passed around the spider 31 and through a space 40 between it and the basket rear plate 32. The air is then pulled through a hole 33 in the basket rear plate. This hole in the basket is covered by tube 9 (approximately l2 inches in diameter) that fits flush against the back of the basket and with a sealing arrangement 34. This tube is supported on a pedestal off of the base frame 35. Internally mounted in this tube is a plate 36 on which are mounted the bearings 37 for support of the basket by the cantilevered shaft 38 attached to the spider 31. Also attached to the spider are the agitating risers 27.

The cleaning agent removal blower 13, mounted on the side of the dust collector, pulls the air through the tube 9, through the duct 11, into the dust collector air inlet chamber 15, into the dust collection bags 14; after passing through the dust collection bags, the cleaned air is drawn into the blower inlet hole 16 and exhausted externally to the machine through the ducting 39.

The dust collection bags or tubes are sufficiently tightly woven material (cloth, fibre glass, synthetics, etc.) that will allow the air to pass through the components (cleaning agents, dust, dirt, grime, etc.) collecting on the inside surface and falling into the collection agents tray 17.

The small continuously running blower 8 provides a small amount of air ow 45 through the inlet duct (the air reacting against a deflection plate 46, mounted in the inlet duct 7, so that it will move in the desired direction-through the basket) and around the dished door to prevent the abrading particles from escaping through the inlet duct and also to prevent them from becoming lodged in the door passageway when in the cleaning or agitating cycle.

To reiterate for clarity and to point additional construction features and operation; the air 41 is initially pulled in through the screen 18 at the rear of the machine (but can be pulled in from any other opening provided), continuing around the outside of the basket to the inlet duct 7 mounted to the door inlet tube 42, goes through the duct and around the dished door. The inlet duct is shown mounted at the top of the door opening tube but can be mounted in any position or location. The inlet tube 4 is designed to run flush against the front of the basket of the machine and sealed by the sealing arrangement 43. The door opening tube with the integral inlet duct is supported off of the base frame that is the common mounting frame off of which the cantilever support pedestal is also mounted.

The dished door with an integral window 44 is utilized to keep material from becoming lodged in the door inlet tube and also distributes and directs the incoming air flow so that it passes through the material evently, through the rear perforated plate and out the rear outlet tube.

Specifically a unique feature is the process of pulling the air through the door tube inlet duct. The air carrying with it the cleaning agents etc., removing the cleaning agents, etc., from material in the basket space, is drawn through the perforated plate at the rear of the basket, through the outlet tube, around the cantilever support bearings and into the dust collecting bags (air and cleaning agents separating bags). The cleaned air is pulled into the blower and forced out through the exhaust ducts to the outside of the machine.

The electrical power to the machine can be either single phase or 220 v. or three phase 220 volts.

The cabinet of the machine is built with a supporting frame 35 to which are mounted removable plates for access to all parts of the machine.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modification and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scheme of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A machine for cleaning sheet material such as draperies and the like, by the use of a plurality of abrading particles that serve as a carrier for a cleaning a-gent and for recovering said particles after they have cleaned said material, which machine comprises:

(a) a housing defined by first and second longitudinally spaced end pieces that are connected by a continuous side wall;

(b) a drum assembly disposed in said housing adjacent said first end piece thereof, with said drum assembly including:

(l) a cylindrical shell having first and second ends;

(2) a first end plate secured to said first end of said shell, in which first end plate a first opening is formed that is in axial alignment with a second opening formed in said first end piece;

(3) a spider secured to said second end of said shell;

(4) a stub shaft secured to the center of said spider;

(5) a perforated plate secured to the side of said spider closest said first end lplate;

(6) a second end plate secured to the side of said spider most remote from said first end plate, in which second end plate a third opening is formed;

(c) door means for closing said second openings, which door means permits said sheet material and particles to be disposed in said drum for cleaning purposes;

(d) a bearing disposed in a fixed position within said housing that rotatably supports said shaft;

(e) first power means for alternately rotating said drum assembly in opposite directions for predetermined periods of time to tumble said sheet materials and particles and clean said sheet material;

(f) filtering means in said housing for removing said particles from a stream of air when said stream of air passes therethrough;

(g) first duct means which connect said first opening to the ambient atmosphere;

(h) first means for preventing said particles in said drum from traveling out of said drum through said first duct means into the ambient atmosphere;

(i) second duct means in communication with said third opening and said filtering means; and

(j) second power-operated means for selectively drawing a stream of air through said first duct means and said drum to recover said particles after completion of said cleaning operation, which stream of air and particles pass through said perforated plate and third opening to said second duct means, whereupon said stream and particles are directed to said filtering means and said particles are removed from said stream, with said stream of air free of said particles being discharged through an opening in said housing into the ambient atmosphere, and said perforated plate preventing said sheet material that has been cleaned from moving into said second duct means with said particles.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said door means is of dished structure and communicates with said first duct means, which dished door means serves to evenly distribut a stream of air entering said drum from said rst duct means and prevents said sheet material being cleansed from lodging in said rst opening during the cleaning operation as said drum rotates.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the perforations in said perforated plate are sufiiciently large as to permit not only said particles, but dust, dirt, grime, and other foreign materials to pass therethrough when said second power-o-perated means draws a stream of air through said drum.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1 which further includes:

(k) a pedestal in said housing that supports said shaft and at least a portion 0f said second duct means.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said rst means comprises an electrically driven blower that draws a stream of air from the ambient atmosphere into said drum at a sufficient velocity as to prevent escape of said particles from said drum into the ambient atmosphere.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said second power-operated means comprises an electrically driven blower.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said ltering means com-prises woven sheet material which permits passage of said stream of air, but not said particles therethrough.

S. A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said woven material is in the form of a plurality of bags disposed within said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,351,198 6/1944 Friedman 69-23 2,293,432 8/1942 Friedman 69-23 3,381,507 5/1968 Burgo 69-23 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 15-305; 69-23 

